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Inmate Who Stole Ambulance Called Angola Warden

Louisiana State Penitentiary Warden Burl Cain says he'd never heard of an inmate breaking out of jail just to seek a transfer to another prison, but that's what a New Orleans offender serving time for armed robbery attempted early Friday.

Cain tells The Advocate he received a call around 12:40 a.m. at his residence about a prison break at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel.

On the line? Joshua Kelly, the 38-year-old inmate who prison officials say overpowered a guard and stole an ambulance to escape from the Ascension Parish prison.

Cain says Kelly wanted to return to Angola, saying he feared for his life at Hunt.

Cain says he and Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc persuaded Kelly to pull over and surrender to officers.

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